Milano Cortina 2026 : USA Clinches Narrow Victory in Team EventAt the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Team USA secured gold in the figure skating team event after a nail-biting finish. American pair Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea delivered when it mattered most, recording a personal best score of 135.36.
Their performance proved decisive, helping the United States narrowly surpass Japan by just a single point in the final standings. The result highlighted how every routine in the team event can make the difference between gold and silver.
Japan’s Historic Breakthrough in Pairs
While the team event ended in heartbreak for Japan, the nation celebrated a landmark achievement in the pairs competition. Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi delivered a stunning comeback to claim Japan’s first-ever Olympic gold in pairs figure skating.
After sitting fifth following the short program, the reigning world champions produced a flawless free skate, earning a career-best score and rewriting history for Japanese figure skating.
A Golden Moment for Japanese Figure Skating
This victory also marked a significant milestone for Japan. It was the country’s first Olympic gold in figure skating since Yuzuru Hanyu triumphed at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.
The achievement by Miura and Kihara signals a new era for Japan in pairs skating, a discipline where the nation had never previously stood atop the Olympic podium.